Please join us on Saturday, October 30th, at noon in the TKE East foyer for the unveiling of the building dedication plaque and to acknowledge the many alumni that made it possible for us to build the greatest fraternity house at USC!
Come show your support and join us in a toast to our alumni!
If you plan on attending, please RSVP by email to Erik Brannon at brannon@apollointeractive.com with a guest count so we can plan for refreshments.
The 1st Annual Fraternity for Life weekend activities kicked off on Friday, July 23rd with cocktails at the 901 Club. There were many alumni—recent grads as well as fraters that graduated in the early ‘60s. It was great to meet some new people and catch up with friends.
We kicked off Saturday, July 24th with a great continental breakfast followed by a tour of the row and then a tour of the TKE West and the newly constructed TKE East houses. Frater Jerrard, #339 was particularly impressed by the new house and greatly appreciated the opportunity to walk down the row and relate some stories from his time at ‘SC to some of the younger alums and actives.
Later in the afternoon, several TKE alums and their families took off to Dodger stadium to catch an afternoon game against the Mets. The weather was perfect and we couldn’t have had a better time; the company (and the beer) was great and, after 13 innings, the Dodgers pulled out the win!
Make a point next year to attend the 2nd annual Fraternity for Life event. You won’t want to miss it!
A memorial gathering for Mark has been scheduled for next Thursday, May 27, from 5-8pm CT.
The gathering will be held at Donnellan Family Funeral Services located at 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL 60077.
“In lieu of” information will be passed along soon.
From Dino Loiacono, Beta Sigma #819
“I am sorry to say that our friend Mark Jansen who has been courageously fighting brain cancer for quite a few years now, lost that battle today. Mark left behind two beautiful daughters Brittany and Meg, his wife Marie, his mother Sally, his sisters Cassandra and Cynthia and many other loving family members and friends. Please keep Mark and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Ever since Mark was diagnosed, I have witnessed him live his daily life to the fullest, as difficult as that often was for him. I will always be inspired by his wonderful spirit and incredible strength and courage. He still is and always will be one of my closest and dearest friends. I will miss him tremendously and am privileged and so very happy that my children got to know him and his wonderful family.
We are planning a memorial gathering for Mark for next Thursday 5/27/10, 5-8pm, at Donnellan at 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL 60077-1026.”
You may contact Frater Dino at Pizeman1@aol.com
Mark, Jane and Mark Barnes
Mark Jansen, Beta Sigma #733, is hospitalized in the ICU unit of a hospital in Illinois. Mark has been courageously fighting brain cancer for quite a few years now. As much of a tough fighter as we all know our brother to be, his body is having tremendous difficulty keeping up with his incredibly strong mind and spirit. Please keep Mark in your thoughts and prayers. Two weeks ago Frater Dino Loiacono, Beta Sigma #819, spoke with him about their time together at TKE and reminisced with fond memories. Dino, his wife Dee, and brother Yale Loiacono, Beta Sigma #852, visited last night with Mark. They are happy to say he is no longer enduring the pain that was often too much for even our fearless leader to withstand. They plan to return this morning to spend some time with him and will extend well wishes to Mark and his family.
Dino encourages fraters to send well wishes via email only to Mark’s sister Cassandra cassandrajfrancis@gmail.com. Please note that at this time, Mark is unable to talk, and therefore the family requests that all correspondence is limited to e-mail. You may contact Dino at Pizeman1@aol.com.
Mark Jansen was a key leader of TKE at USC during the 1980s. He served as President, Treasurer, and general counsel to many of today’s active alumni. He started 28th Street Magaine at USC and grew the TB publishing empire that spanned all Southern California Colleges. He is and will always be one of our greatest Beta Sigma TKE’s.
Mark, we wish you the best. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
We just received this great photo taken in front of TKE West in 1958.
It was a perfect Southern California day. 72 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. After watching the Trojan Spring Practice event at the Coliseum, alumni joined the actives on the expansive front deck of TKE West for an afternoon BBQ. House Mom Matha and Cook Reggie made sure there was plenty of good food for all. The actrives made sure there was plenty of beer. More than 30 alumni attended the event, including Gilbert Hershberger – Pin # 1o, Everet Miller – Pin # 454, and Jerry Murphy – Pin # 376.
What an exciting time it is to be a Beta Sigma TKE! In addition to a new brand new TKE House, the Alumni Association has decided to relaunch the print version of the Beta Sigma TKE. In this issue of Beta Sigma TKE, read how the new TKE East House has impacted TKE and increased its presence on the row and on campus. Read more about Beta Sigma’s involvement in student government, other campus organizations, dominance in Ironman, and philanthropy. Prytanis, Marcello Dubaz, also gives an update on Chapter activities, campus leadership efforts by the chapter members, and introduces the new Chapter Officers. Plus, another addition of ‘Heard from the Bond’ where you can learn more about what your brothers have been up to since graduation.
Look for the newsletter to hit your mailbox the week of April 12th. If you have not updated your address take the time to do so now by clicking here: www.tkeusc.org/alumni/directory/
By the way, we also launched a new web site that you are looking at right now.
Ever wish you were back in College? Remember the parties and good times? Check out this video to get an idea of the scale and scope of the parties TKE USC throws. This is from the 2009 Halloween Party. The chapter also throws an equally amazing Mardi Gras party in the Spring.
FFL BBQ & Open House RecapAugust 11, 2011
Video Credit: Thanks to frater Tex Wall for making the video for this event.
Saturday, July 23, proved to be a great day for the 2nd annual Fraternity for Life event. This year we held a “BBQ” buffet of tri-tip roast and chicken with all the fixings and plenty of wine and beer for everyone. After lunch, we were treated to a tour of West and then East and then finished off with a walking tour of the row.
The event was well attended with over 30 alums and their wives. The undergrads were well represented too with many in attendance.
We had alumni that graduated in the mid-fifties, several from the mid to late-sixties, a couple from the mid-seventies, several from the eighties and nineties, and one or two recent graduates. All in all, we had a great cross-section and several alums mentioned what a great time they had, including frater Dennis Jarrard, who commented that he was able to see three of his brothers he’d lived with in the house and that it had been 50 years since he’d seen them. Another frater, Fred Leland, relayed how much he enjoyed the event and how proud he was to come back and see the condition of the houses and how successful the chapter was.
Make a point of making it to next year’s Fraternity for Life event–tentatively to be held in the middle to the end of July. We’re hoping to grow the event and make it an annual tradition.